The Sharp Sparrow blog
Notes from the table — the rules made clear, the card made friendlier, and the habits that win hands.
What Is a Soap in Mahjong? The White Dragon, Explained
A soap is the white dragon. It pairs with dots as a dragon, plays the zero in year hands, and goes neutral the moment it does. Here is every rule that follows, including the joker question.
What Happens When Your Hand Is Dead in Mahjong?
A dead hand cannot win, and it still pays the winner. What kills a hand, why you may never call your own, what counts as a challenge, and what happens to your jokers.
Do You Have to Do the Second Charleston in Mahjong?
No. The second Charleston is optional, and any single player can stop it after the first left, with no reason given. Here is the exact rule, the timing that causes arguments, and how the courtesy pass works.
Mahjong Joker Rules: Can You Use a Joker for a Pair?
Jokers only work in groups of three or more. Never a pair, never a single. Plus the exchange rule that quietly kills more hands than any other.